TRANMERE ROVERS required a penalty shoot-out to avoid an upset at the hands of Prescot Cables and book their place in the Liverpool Senior Cup final.

Shaun Garnett’s Rovers moved into the regional showpiece with either Everton or Bootle but were made to sweat by their non-league opponents who were full of character and fight.

Losing on penalties seemed incredibly cruel on Shaun Reid’s Evo-Stik First Division North side after they helped light up a memorable night of action at Prenton Park.

Twice Cables saw their lead pegged back but each time the part-time side found an answer and even when trailing in the game, the visitors discovered a way back in to first force extra-time and to then take the game to a shoot-out.

A Steven Tames hat-trick propelled Prescot towards the possibility of a shock win but it was the performance of their captain Joe Gibiliru which put even some of Rovers’ regular first team players in the shade.

Lucas Akins slid home the winning penalty, after Hollett had his saved for Cables, and send Tranmere through and conclude an all-time classic match in this historic competition.